Seven workers were put on “administrative assignment” days after online postings of writings by the gunman who murdered six people at The Covenant School, according to Nashville, Tennessee, authorities.
According to confirmation issued on Wednesday, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department is still looking into who published the words. The department is putting the seven individuals on leave in order to “protect the integrity of the active, progressing investigation,” according to a department official.
According to the spokeswoman, all seven workers have complete police authority.
The representative went on to say that the decision to place the group on administration assignment was “absolutely non-punitive.” According to the statement, the police department is not naming any of the seven individuals by name in order to be fair to them.
On Monday, a conservative podcast host and YouTuber uploaded three photographs that were allegedly written by 28-year-old Audrey Hale, the shooter at Covenant School. The pictures seemed to depict articles discussing carrying out a school shooting on a certain day.
NBC News has not attested to the authenticity of the papers.
Hale was killed by police after opening fire March 27 at the private Christian school in Nashville, killing three children and three adults. The shooter had once been a student at the school.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell called Monday for a full investigation into the images, telling Metro Nashville Law Director Wally Dietz “to initiate an investigation into how these images could have been released.”
“I am deeply concerned with the safety, security, and well-being of the Covenant families and all Nashvillians who are grieving,” O’Connell said in a statement.
Parents whose kids were at The Covenant School at the time of the shooting filed a motion seeking to keep the writings secret.
A spokesperson for the parents on Monday called the person who publicly released the images of the writings “a viper” and said the person “released evidence that was gathered in our most vulnerable moment.”
“You have now allowed [the shooter], who terrorized our family with bullets, to be able to now terrorize us with words from the grave,” said the spokesperson, Brent Leatherwood, whose three children were at the school and survived.
David Raybin, an attorney for Hale’s parents, said he could not speak about the shared images, citing legal proceedings.
“We’ve never seen any manifesto,” Raybin said. “Nor are we in a position to authenticate these pieces of paper.”
Protecting the Investigation:
Authorities are tight-lipped about the identity of the seven individuals, emphasizing that the decision to place them on administrative assignment is non-punitive. The move is solely aimed at safeguarding the active investigation into the writings attributed to 28-year-old Audrey Hale, the assailant in the Covenant School shooting. All seven workers reportedly possess complete police authority.
The Unverified Posts Nashville police:
Earlier this week, a conservative podcast host and YouTuber shared three images purportedly containing writings by Audrey Hale, detailing plans for a school shooting. However, NBC News has not confirmed the authenticity of these documents. Hale was fatally shot by police on March 27 after opening fire at the private Christian school, where he had once been a student.
Calls for Investigation:
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has called for a thorough investigation into the release of these images. Expressing deep concern for the safety and well-being of Covenant families and the grieving community, Mayor O’Connell urged Metro Nashville Law Director Wally Dietz to initiate an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the dissemination of the writings.
Parental Concerns:
Parents, whose children were present at The Covenant School during the shooting, filed a motion seeking to keep the writings confidential. A spokesperson for the parents condemned the public release of the images, calling the individual behind it a “viper” and accusing them of exploiting their most vulnerable moment. Brent Leatherwood, representing the parents, expressed anguish, stating that the release allows the shooter to terrorize them posthumously with words.Nashville police
Legal Perspective:
David Raybin, an attorney for Hale’s parents, refrained from commenting on the shared images, citing ongoing legal proceedings. He emphasized that they have not seen any manifesto and are not in a position to authenticate the pieces of paper.
Conclusion:
As the investigation unfolds, the situation surrounding the online postings adds complexity to an already tragic event. The focus remains on finding the truth, ensuring justice, and addressing the concerns of the grieving community and concerned parents at The Covenant School. Nashville police
